Russia opts out of European arms control treaty

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia says it will no longer attend consultations related to a key European arms control treaty, accusing the West of stonewalling its demands.

The move comes as Russia-West relations have plunged to their lowest point since the Cold War times over the Ukrainian crisis.

The 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe treaty limits the number of tanks, aircraft and other heavy non-nuclear weapons deployed on the continent. Russia suspended its participation in 2007, citing NATO countries' failure to ratify a new version signed in 1999.

Russian diplomat Anton Mazur said in Tuesday's statement in Vienna that Russia will stop attending the meetings of a consultative group related to the agreement, meaning "the suspension has become full." He added, however, that Moscow is still open to further arms control talks.